Bottle banding device



Dec. 11, 1962 K. E. BAUMANN ETAL 3,067,501

BOTTLE BANDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 lay 9m M4" ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 11, 1962 K. E. 'BAUMANN ETAL 3,067,501

BOTTLE BANDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 @zZZ /8 iaa fw g m ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 11, 1962 K. E. BAUMANN ETAL 3,067,501

BOTTLE BANDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 7 45 /NVEN7'OR$:

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3,067,591 BUTTLE BANDKNG DEVHCE Karl E. Baurnann, Mount Prospect, Robert H. Campbell, Morton Grove, and Anton Marsala, Arlington Heights, lll., assignors to Baxter Laboratories, inc, Morton Grove, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21, 1959, er. No. 783,222 4 Claims. (Cl. 29-235) This invention relates to a bottle banding device, and, more particularly, to a device for aplying a bail-equipped band to a parenteral solution bottle.

The bottles with which the device of the invention is concerned are readily distinguishable from most other bottles in that they are equipped with an annular recess in the outer bottle wall adjacent to but spaced from the bottom. This recess receives and supports a stand which in turn is equipped with a semicircular-shaped handle or bail-the bail being used to support the bottle in a mouth-downward position for the dispensing of fluids to a patient. The bail is generally pivotally connected to the band which permits the suspension of the bottle from hook-equipped standards, hospital beds, gunstocks, etc.

For a long period, the band and hail elements were constructed of metal and were fastened manually to the bottle. With the advent of plastic materials, notably polyethylene, it has been possible to construct the band and bail as a unitary element so that a number of manipulative steps in the assembly such as attaching the bail to the band and securing the band on itself in place in the recess, can be eliminated. However, the elimination of certain manipulative steps has brought about other problems in the assembly of the band on the bottle.

It is to be appreciated, however, that case of assembly of the band on the bottle is only desirable, and not the principal objective. The principal objective is the absolutely secure union of the two so that the bottle can be safely suspended to perform its life-saving function. Therefore, an continuous band must not be unduly weakened during the installation process. Further, the expansion of the band needed to have it pass over the end of the bottle requires a band of sufiicient strength so as not to be permanently deformed. When such a band is provided, a second problem arises in that its resistance to deformation imposes a counterstress on the bottle bottom at the juncture of the bottom with the side walls which is ordinarily the weakest part of the bottle. Here, it is to be appreciated that these bottles ordinarily are provided with relatively fiat bottoms and straight, upwardly-extending, cylindrical side walls, so that there is considerable stress at the juncture between the two. If, in the bandinstalling operation, an excessive stress is applied at these points, the bottle and its contents may be completely lost, along with possible injury to the artisan performing the operation.

Another problem posed in installing a bail-equipped band on a parenteral solution bottle arises from the bail. With a manual operation, it is possible for the artisan to carefully position the bail alongside the bottle wall so that it will not be injured. Even an inadvertent injury to the bail may be critical, since it is the bail that, in the first instance, receives all the stress in supporting the bottle. The bottles ordinarily encountered in this procedure are quite sizable, containing usually from 200 milliliters to one liter of a parenteral fluid. This means that considerable weight is supported by the bail, and any weakening of the bail could be just as disastrous to the program of therapy as loosening of the band.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel device for applying a bail-equipped band to a parenteral solution bottle and one which overcomes the problems outlined above. Another object is to provide a device for ice applying a bail-equipped band to a parenteral solution bottle which preserves and protects both the bottle and the bail-equipped band from accidental injury. Still another object is to provide a bottle-banding device especially adapted for expanding a circular band and thereafter moving the band into a predetermined position on an immobilized bottle. Yet another object is to provide a device for banding a bottle in which various movable elements arranged in circular configuration provide means for first receiving an unexpanded band, expanding the band to permit the receipt of a bottle therein, and thereafter moving the band in expanded condition into place on the bottle.

A further object is to provide, in a device adapted to apply a bail-equipped band to a parenteral solution bottle, means for ejecting the bottle from the device once the banding operation has been completed. Other objects and advantages of this invention can be seen as this specification proceeds.

The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment seen in the accompanying drawing, in which- PEG. 1 is a perspective view of a parenteral solution bottle having assembled thereon a bail-equipped band;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a device embodying teachings of the invention and adapted to mount a bail-equipped band on a bottle of the character seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the operative parts thereof in a different operative condition;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 but showing only a portion thereof and with the parts in that portion being in a different operative condition, the condition of the elements in FIG. 5 corresponding to the condition of the elements seen in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 and showing the parts of the device in the condition for ejecting a. bottle therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a parenteral solution bottle which is provided with an annular recess 11 adjacent the bottom thereof. Positioned in the recess 11 is a band 12 equipped with an integral bail 13. As pointed out before, such a band and bail structure may be unitary and constructed of a plastic material such as polyethylene.

In the illustration of the device given in FIGS. 2-6, the numeral 14 designates a bearing plate or frame for the remaining portions of the device. The plate 14, as most clearly seen in FIG. 4, is centrally recessed as at 15 and provides one end wall of a cylinder designated 16. The side wall of the cylinder 16 is designated by the numeral 17, and the upper end wall is designated by the numeral 18..

Mounted on the top wall 18 is a block 19 which is equipped with a bore 20 communicating with cylinder 16. A similar bore 21 is provided in plate 14 communicating, however, with the lower end of cylinder 16. Mounted for reciprocation within cylinder 16 is a piston 22 which is moved upwardly or downwardly through the introduction of a suitable pressurized fluid through bores 20 or 21, as the case may be.

The piston 22 is centrally apertured as at 23 and is equipped with a hollow piston rod 24 threadedly connected to the piston 22 in the recess 23. The piston rod 24 extends through a central opening 25 in the top wall 18 and outwardly of top wall is equipped with a sleeve or collar 26. A seal 27 such as an O-ring is positioned within an annular recess in top wall 18 about the bore 25 to prevent the escape of fluid from cylinder 16. v

The collar 26 is equipped with a plurality of horizontally inwardly-extending recesses 23, each of which has received therein one end of an L-shaped lever member 29. The lever member 29 is pivotally mounted as at 30 within a recess in block 19. In the illustration given, three such lever members 29 are provided. Slidably mounted for movement radial to the longitudinal axis of the device is a jaw supporting block or member 31. Again, in the illustration given, three such members are provided. As can be appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 6, the jaw-supporting element 31 is moved outwardly when the piston 22 is moved upwardly, lever arm 29 being pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal mounting 30 to go from the FIG. 6 to the FIG. 4 condition.

Each jaw-supporting member 31 is equipped with a jaw element 32, the jaw element 32 being rigidly coupled to the jaw-supporting member 31 by means of countersunk bolts 33 and 34. As is best seen in FIGS. and 6, each jaw element 32 is equipped with an upwardly-extending wall 35, the walls 35 also being seen in plan in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upwardly-extending wall 35 of each jaw member 32 is outwardly arcuate in nature and is essentially a cylindrical segment.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it is seen that the plate 14 supports a second cylinder 36 which has its top wall defined by plate 14 and its side wall by element 37. The end wall is provided by a plate 38 secured to the element 37. Slidably mounted within cylinder 36 is a piston 39 having a hollow piston rod 40 threadedly anchored to piston 39 as at 41. The numeral 41 designates a central bore in piston 39, and the numeral 42 designates a piston ring or seal. Fluid for movement of piston 39 is provided to cylinder 36 by bores 43 in plate 14 and 44 in plate 38-. The upper end of hollow piston rod 40 is equipped with a spider 45, which, as is best seen in FIG. 2, includes three radially-extending arms. Each of the arms 46 of spider 45 slidably supports a stripping element 47. Each stripping element 47 (as again best seen in FIG. 4) is equipped with a radially-extending slot 48 in which a post 49 is received, the post 49 being threadedly received in a block 50 anchored to the outer end of an arm 46 by means of bolts 51. The outer wall of each stripping element 47 is equipped with an annular circular recess 52, in which is positioned a circular coiled spring 53. Thus, the stripping elements 47 are urged inwardly and against the walls 35. However, the upward movement of hollow piston rod 40 causes the stripping elements 47 also to move upwardly and slide along the Walls 35.

In the illustration given, the stripping elements 47 are also cylindrical segments and have the same radius of curvature as the walls 35. As can be best seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the radius of curvature of the inner surface of the stripping elements 47 is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the outer surfaces of walls 35, so that when the jaw elements 32 are in a maximum radial position, the stripping elements 47 are adapted to more or less continuously abut the walls 35.

Again referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that the hollow piston rod 40 slidably receives a piston rod 54, which in turn is threadedly attached to a piston 55, the piston 55 being slidably mounted in a cylinder 56 defined by plate 38 as its top wall and plate 57 as its bottom wall, with the cylindrical side walls being designated 58. Flow passages for pressurized fluid to move piston 55 are designated .59 and 60, being provided in top plate 38 and bottom plate 57 of cylinder 56, respectively. The upper end of piston rod 54 is equipped with a plate 61, which, when the same is moved upwardly, serves to eject a bottle 10, as can be appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 6 In the operation of the device, the jaw elements 32 are first positioned as seen in FIG. 2. In this condition, the walls 35 are of a small enough circular configuration so i as to readily receive a band 12. Under the urging of spring 53, the stripping elements 47 are urged against the walls 35 at a number of spaced-apart points, as seen in FIG. 2, to prevent the band 12 from being inadvertently introduced too far down into the device. Thereafter, upward movement of piston 22 moves the jaw elements 32 radially outwardly and through walls 35, and moves the stripper elements 47 outwardly into the FIGS. 3 and 4 position. This expands the band 12 and permits the in sertion of the bottle It In FIG. 2, the stripper elements 47 are in their inward position, as can be appreciated from the fact that the stationary post 49 is at the outer edge of the slot 43. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the stripper elements are at an outward position, the stationary posts 49 being adjacent the inner ends of slots 48.

The bottle it as seen in FIG. 4, is supported on jaw elements 32 inwardly of walls 35, where the jaw elements 32 are each provided with a sector-like depression or recess 32a in FIG. 4. After stretching band 12 and loading bottle 10, the piston 22 is moved dowardly to the FIG. 6 position to position walls 35 in contact with bottle It).

Thereafter, upward movement of piston 39 urges the strippling elements 47 upwardly and along the walls 35 to slide the band 12 upwardly and into the recess 11, as

seen in FIG. 5. Subsequent to this, upward movement of piston 55 moves piston rod 54 upwardly to eject the bottle 19, as seen in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the stripper elements 47 have been retracted or lowered to their FIG. 4 position. However, this is not obligatory, piston 39 being optionally in its upper position during the actuation of piston 55.

Where the loading and unloading of the device is achieved by a human operator, it is desirable to have the jaw elements 32 spaced apart at their adjacent ends, as seen in FIG. 2, a distance sufficient so that the inadvertent introduction of the operators finger will not result in injury. In some instances, however, this spacing may be dispensed with. In using a plurality of elements 32, the openings between elements, if provided, are not aligned, so that there is no inadvertent positioning of the bail 13 below the band 12 for a possible shearing action on the bail.

It is also to be appreciated that the inventive structure hereinbefore described may be advantageously coupled with automatic bottle handling equipment, so that the positioning and retraction of the bottle is done mechanically and without the need for human attendance. In this connection, it is also to be appreciated that the reciprocation of the various piston rod elements can be conveniently achieved through the use of cam operators or other reciprocation-inducing means than the fiuid pressure cylinders shown.

While, in the foregoing specification, we have set forth a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention for the purpose of explanation thereof, many variations in the details given will be perceived by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a device for applying a plastic bail band to a parenteral solution bottle having a band-receiving recess,

(A) a frame,

(B) a bottle support on said frame,

(0) band expanding means located on said frame and positioned perimetrically about said support, said band expanding means comprising (1) a chuck with a plurality of jaws for horizontal movement,

(2) each of said chuck jaws having an outer up per arcuate wall,

(3) the outer arcuate walls of said plurality of jaws defining a band-retaining member,

(D) means for stripping a band from said jaws comprising (1) a reciprocating member mounted for reciprocation on said frame and lying in the axis of said chuck,

(2) said reciprocating member, at the end thereof adjacent said chuck jaws, being equipped with a plurality of radially-extending arms,

(3) each of said arms movably carrying a cylinder segment,

(4) the cylinder segments being arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other and in abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws the outer surface of each said jaw walls being defined by a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the inner surface of each of said cylinder segments,

(5) spring means encircling said segments and urging the same into abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws, and

(E) means on said frame for (1) moving said jaws horizontally to expand a band positioned thereon and for (2) axially moving said segments to strip an expanded band from said jaws.

2. In a device for applying a plastic bail band to a parenteral solution bottle having a band-receiving recess,

(A) a frame,

(B) a bottle support on said frame,

(C) band expanding means located on said frame and positioned perimetrically about said support, said band expanding means comprising (1) a chuck with a plurality of jaws for horizontal movement,

(2) each of said chuck jaws having an outer upper arcuate wall,

(3) the outer arcuate walls of said plurality of jaws defining a band-retaining member,

(D) means for stripping a band from said jaws comprising (1) a reciprocating member mounted for reciprocation on said frame and lying in the axis of said chuck,

(2) said reciprocating member, at the end thereof adjacent said chuck jaws, being equipped with a plurality of radially-extending arms,

(3) each of said arms movably carrying a cylinder segment,

(4) the cylinder segments being arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other and in abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws,

(5) spring means encircling said segments and urging the same into abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws, and

(E) means on said frame for reciprocating said reciprocating member,

(1) said reciprocating member including a pair of coaxially related elements,

(2) one of said coaxially related elements being coupled to said jaws and the other of said elements being coupled to said segments.

The device of claim 2 in which a third coaxially related element is provided in said reciprocating member for ejecting a bottle after a band has been positioned in the bottle recess, and means on said frame for reciprocating said third element.

4. In a device for applying a plastic bail band to a parenteral solution bottle having a band-receiving recess,

(A) a frame,

(B) a bottle support on said frame,

(C) band expanding means located on said frame and positioned perimetrically about said support, said band expanding means comprising (1) a chuck with a plurality of jaws for horizontal movement,

(2) each of said chuck jaws having an outer upper arcuate wall,

(3) the outer arcuate walls of said plurality of jaws defining a band-retaining member,

(D) means for moving said jaws horizontally, comprising (1) a reciprocating member mounted for reciprocation on said frame and lying in the axis of said chuck,

(2) a plurality of radially-extending levers pivotally mounted on said frame and in engagement with the end of said reciprocating member adjacent said chuck jaws, said jaws also being in engagement with said levers whereby axial movement of said reciprocating member produces radial movement of said jaws,

(E) means for stripping a band from said jaws, comprising (1) a second reciprocating member coaxially related with the first-mentioned reciprocating member and equipped with a plurality of radially-extending arms,

(2) each of said arms cylinder segment,

(3) said cylinder segments being arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other and in abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws,

(4) spring means encircling said segments and urging the same into abutting relation with the outer walls of said jaws, and

(F) means on said frame for reciprocating said reciprocating members to sequentially move said jaws horizontally to expand a band positioned thereon and for axially moving said segments to strip an expanded band from said jaws.

being equipped with a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,037,159 Lorenz Aug. 27, 1912 1,204,028 Johnson Nov. 7, 1916 1,355,912 Robbins Oct. 9, 1920 1,676,236 Armstrong July 10, 1928 2,601,547 Minock June 24, 1952 2,811,002 Dimond Oct. 29, 1957 2,856,678 Johnson Oct. 21, 1958 

